Search Results for: small town

A Few Hours on Whidbey Island

July 15, 2015

As I mentioned the other day, the reason we headed up to Seattle last weekend (other than to try and escape the heat in Portland) was to visit some friends of ours that were having a housewarming party at the North end of Whidbey Island. Last year when we went to the San Juans, we really wanted to head South back home through Whidbey Island, but I got really sick and we had to cancel that part of the trip. So when the chance came up this year, we jumped at the chance to sea some coastal views and small island towns, as well as a ferry ride over from the mainland.

We took the quick ferry from Mukilteo (see tips below on this) and then started in Langley and drove North throughout the day, spending a few hours on Whidbey Island. There were definitely cool things about the island, but to be honest, we were pretty disappointed compared to the scenery we had experienced in the San Juans and were comparing it to that. All in all, I’m glad we did the drive and got to see the area, but it’s not a place I’d head back to anytime soon. The lack of true coastal views, really run down little towns and houses and overall just not a great feeling, we mentioned multiple times that if you’re looking for an escape out of the Seattle areas, we’d much prefer the San Juans.

As we drove North, we found the most beautiful part of the island was around Deception Point: a huge bridge crossing between islands. It was instantly greener, better coastal views and gorgeous blue ocean. If we went again, I would head directly North on the island and closer to Anacortes, but all in all, we were glad we got to experience Whidbey Island even though it wasn’t our favorite.

Tips for Whidbey Island:

-If you’re taking the ferry from Mukilteo, the actual ferry ride is really short, around 20 minutes. But the line can pile up for miles and you can sit for hours waiting to get on the ferry boat. I would suggest either going really early before the line gets long or going on an off weekend. Avoid holiday weekends if you can.

-Whidbey Island gets really full on holiday weekends which was when we were there and it got a little claustrophobic in the small towns. I would highly suggest visiting when there isn’t a holiday weekend or special events going on.

The Best Inexpensive Destinations in Europe

July 3, 2015

Europe has always been a hot spot for tourists. It’s got everything: amazing history, wonderful architecture, charm everywhere you look and great food. But it can also be pretty expensive, especially in larger cities like London and Paris. And don’t even get me started on how expensive Scandinavia is. So if you’re looking to head to Europe but don’t want to spend as much money as you will in the more expensive spots, here are the best inexpensive destinations in Europe for you to choose from!

Portugal

You’ll be amazed at the cost of things in Portugal! Even in its famous city Lisbon, things were priced really low compared to the other European hubs. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck in this seaside city. And the great thing here is that most of the attractions are free, so you can just wander and take in this edgy city for all it has to offer as well as Lisbon being incredibly charming with cobblestone streets and old buildings just begging to photographed.

Spain

I was blown away by how cheap Spain was compared to it’s neighbor up North, France. A huge dinner of tapas and sangria for 15 euros, ok, I’ll take that! You can eat well and enjoy a great trip in Spain for a lot less than other European hot spots. Particularly as you get out of the main hubs like Barcelona and Madrid, prices really start to go down.

Ireland

While Dublin is still a lot less expensive than its neighbor in the UK, London, where Ireland really shines in price is when you get out of the cities. The little towns in Ireland will offer so much and won’t break the bank. You’ll win in culture and your wallet!

Italy

While the larger cities in Italy like Rome and Milan still command a fairly high price point, when you get into small town Italy, the pricing will noticeably go down. Head to Verona or the little towns scattered throughout Italy and you’ll notice a pretty good price point.

Morocco

Even though it’s not in Europe, Morocco is a popular destination from Europe since it’s so close. Here you’ll find prices really are inexpensive and you can haggle for even lower ones. You’ll get lots of bang for your buck in Morocco and you’ll walk away with a unique experience too.

Sevilla : An Ancient Paradise

April 20, 2015

Ahh Sevilla… we’re finally talking about this incredible city that I’ve been waiting to share with you! You know those moments somewhere in a foreign place when you completely fall in love with your surroundings? When you are immediately picturing yourself living there, wandering around with a basket on your arm, collecting fruit from the local market and enjoying long dinners at your local bodega? Yea, that was Sevilla for me.

I can’t tell you how much charm and magic exists in this ancient city, from the windy cobblestone streets to the white and yellow buildings surrounding by orange trees bursting with fruit. From the Moorish influence to the ornate balconies, from the incredible food and bustling cafes at every corner to the hours spent drinking sangria and cafe con leche. Sevilla is one of those places in the world that seems way too good to be true. The ancient buildings should be falling apart, the white washed walls should be dirty…but they’re not. The orange trees should only show a couple pieces of fruit, but they are full to the brim. The sky shouldn’t be that shade of blue, but it is. The people shouldn’t be so nice and cheerful, but they are. Sevilla is in essence an ancient paradise, a place that just exudes a calmness, a serenity, a very specific kind of charm. When I used to imagine what it must be like to live in a small town on the Mediterranean, I imagined exactly what it felt like in Sevilla and it’s not even on the Med.

Some places just stick with us; Sevilla will stick with me for a long time. As we wandered the streets Nick and I spoke many times about someday having a little apartment here on a windy cobblestone street, with an iron balcony overlooking the surrounding area. We could wake up late, wander to the market, ride a Vespa through the tiny streets, spend our evenings drinking sangria and eating tapas for hours. It’s a place that seems like the perfect place to escape the craziness of normal life, the perfect city to long for when you need a bit of sunshine and rest. And I know in the years to come, it will definitely become that place for us. I can’t wait to share more of this magical city with you in the days to come! We fell hard for Sevilla and it will always be an ancient paradise we will long to escape to.

Traveling to Spain?

See all of my posts on the country!

And here are all my recs for where to stay!

A Quick Guide to Honolulu

February 5, 2015

I spend a lot of time in Honolulu and lived there for a couple years as well, so when I head to Hawaii, I’m spending most of my time in the local areas of this well known city. While Waikiki and North Shore are great to see and experience, the lesser known spots in Honolulu are some of my favorites. If you’re headed to Hawaii in the near future, don’t miss out on some of my favorite spots!

How to Get Around: Car is the easiest form of transportation in the city as it does sprawl a pretty great distance in every direction. I would recommend renting a car for your time in the city, unless all you plan to do is sticking in one of the tourist areas on the beach, then you can walk everywhere.

Where to Go for What: Honolulu is both a big city and a small town at the same time. Everyone knowns everyone, everyone seems to be related to everyone and while there is lots to do and see, it is a small island after all. Waikiki is where you’re going to find the nice hotels and all the tourists. Ala Moana Mall is where all the great shopping is. Ward Center is where the locals go for food and entertainment. Downtown is really only alive during the weekdays when everyone is at work. Manoa is where many locals live and heads up into the mountains. The University of Hawaii sprawls through the center of town with its campus and the H1 freeway dissects Honolulu running East and West.

Where to Eat: Over the years I’ve come up with some of my favorite spots around the city, some local spots, some chains, and some in the tourist areas. For a great steak dinner, Hy’s is old school and always spot on. For awesome Chinese food, go to Asia Manoa. For a special lunch or dinner, I love Mariposa at Neimen Marcus. Longhi’s is famous for being an old time Hawaiian spot. For a good spot in Waikiki, The Cheesecake Factory there is one of the best of the chain (but be prepared for a long wait). For a little Irish charm in the heart of the city, Murphy’s has great pub style food.

The Best Beaches: I’m not a big beach person but over the years I’ve found some favorites of mine. I like to go early in the morning before they get crowded with tourists but here are some of my favorites. Waikiki Beach towards the Ala Moana Surfrider hotel and Diamond Head can get really crowded during the day, but go at sunrise and it’s lovely. The beach at the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a great spot towards the Eastern end of Waikiki and is usually not nearly as crowded as the other spots in the tourist areas. For a quiet local view of the water, Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island offer some nice stretches of beach and are filled with more locals than tourists. And while not in Honolulu, but on the other side of the island, I have to say one of my favorite beaches on Oahu is at Lanikai Beach, which is worth mentioning in Kailua. Go here at sunrise and you won’t be disappointed!